Tesla CEO Elon Musk has shared a post on X announcing that SpaceX will launch a Starship carrying Optimus explorer robots to Mars by the end of 2026. “Starship will hopefully depart for Mars at the end of next year with Optimus explorer robots!,” Mush wrote in the post. The tech billionaire quoted a post by X user named Curiosity @MAstronomers showing rover images of Mars' surface.
The announcement comes a month later when Musk revealed an ambitious timeline for the company's Mars mission. According to Musk's timeline, if these robotic landings prove successful, human missions to Mars could begin as soon as 2029, though he acknowledged that 2031 is a more realistic target date.
“If those landings go well, then human landings may start as soon as 2029, although 2031 is more likely,” he said in an X post last month.
Elon Musk plans to investigate square-shaped structures on Mars
Earlier this year, an image captured by NASA’s decommissioned Mars Global Surveyor’s Mars Orbiter Camera (MOC) was discovered which showed a perfectly square-shaped structure, nearly 3 kilometers (1.8 miles) wide on the planet. This geometric anomaly has sparked widespread speculation, with theories ranging from natural geological formations to potential extraterrestrial origins.
The tech billionaire then urged for a direct investigation into the formation which has further fueled discussions about the structure’s significance. Replying to podcaster Joe Rogan’s post that showed the square structure on Mars, Musk wrote: “We should send astronauts to Mars to investigate!”
SpaceX Mars plans face challenges after second Starship test failure
Meanwhile, SpaceX's Mars colonization ambitions encountered a hurdle following the explosion of its Starship vehicle during the eighth test flight in March 2025. This failure, the second in just two months, highlighted the substantial technical challenges that stand between Elon Musk's timeline and the reality of Mars exploration.
The March test initially showed promise when the Super Heavy booster successfully landed. However, the mission ended in disaster after multiple Raptor engines on the upper stage malfunctioned.
Starship will hopefully depart for Mars at the end of next year with Optimus explorer robots! https://t.co/8dzlxzFg0h
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) April 10, 2025
The announcement comes a month later when Musk revealed an ambitious timeline for the company's Mars mission. According to Musk's timeline, if these robotic landings prove successful, human missions to Mars could begin as soon as 2029, though he acknowledged that 2031 is a more realistic target date.
“If those landings go well, then human landings may start as soon as 2029, although 2031 is more likely,” he said in an X post last month.
Starship departs for Mars at the end of next year, carrying Optimus.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) March 15, 2025
If those landings go well, then human landings may start as soon as 2029, although 2031 is more likely. https://t.co/JRBB95sgNN
Elon Musk plans to investigate square-shaped structures on Mars
Earlier this year, an image captured by NASA’s decommissioned Mars Global Surveyor’s Mars Orbiter Camera (MOC) was discovered which showed a perfectly square-shaped structure, nearly 3 kilometers (1.8 miles) wide on the planet. This geometric anomaly has sparked widespread speculation, with theories ranging from natural geological formations to potential extraterrestrial origins.
The tech billionaire then urged for a direct investigation into the formation which has further fueled discussions about the structure’s significance. Replying to podcaster Joe Rogan’s post that showed the square structure on Mars, Musk wrote: “We should send astronauts to Mars to investigate!”
SpaceX Mars plans face challenges after second Starship test failure
Meanwhile, SpaceX's Mars colonization ambitions encountered a hurdle following the explosion of its Starship vehicle during the eighth test flight in March 2025. This failure, the second in just two months, highlighted the substantial technical challenges that stand between Elon Musk's timeline and the reality of Mars exploration.
The March test initially showed promise when the Super Heavy booster successfully landed. However, the mission ended in disaster after multiple Raptor engines on the upper stage malfunctioned.
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